My Spirit Sings Our Sovereign Lord

American composer and organist Robert Powell has written a considerable amount of music related to the church: anthems, service music, hymn concertatos, organ music, handbell music, and larger scale oratorios. His moderate, neo-romantic approach to composition is a practical one for most churches and gives his music an acceptance even in conservative congregations.

This collection contains settings of six hymns, not all of which were familiar to me. Powell’s approach usually consists of a brief related introduction that sets the mood for each tune. Christ is Risen! Alleluia!opens with a fanfare followed by the melody in the tenor part. I Received the Living God is a soft meditation. Arise, My Soul, Arise presents the melody right away. A middle section on a secondary manual, written in two parts, lays out the outlines of the melody in triplets and is completely different from anything else in the volume. This was my favorite section, after which the beginning material returns. He Who Would Valiant Be is the longest piece and has a dreamy, gently flowing feel to it. My Soul Cries Outis another gentle, softly progressing piece with a short introduction. And finally, O Living Breath of God is, again, soft with the feel of a communion extemporization to it.

The music is well written. The melodies are well set off. None of the pieces are difficult—definitely useful church music. One might wish for more harmonic excitement, and the constant steadiness of the eighth notes is stultifying after a while. But, that said, no one in he congregation is going to get upset with the “wildness” of the music. It is a very useful volume for church work and I recommend it for those times when a recognizable tune setting is needed.
The Diapason
March 2013